Fluid meter



Aprifi i6, 192 9.

E. B. NICHOLS FLUID METER Filed July 26, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 TTORNEY April 16, 1929. NICHOLS 1,709,147

FLUID METER Filed July 26, 1927 6 Sheets-Shea 3 INVENTOR 'zz sATTd RNw April 16, 1929. c o s 1,709,147

FLUID METER Filed July 26, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 66 X 64 l/ 73 I r a I I g- 76 73 ll a. E ,6I9 I 2 1. w I l INVENTOR April 1929- E. B. NICHOLS 1,709,147

FLUID METER Filed July 26, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTQR mg "AZSATTQRNE 5 pril 16, 1929.

'E. B. NICHOLS FLUID METER Filed July 26, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT-"OFFICE.

EDGAR B. NICHOLS, OF RO'CHESTER, NEW ,YORK, ASSIGNOR TOTHE PFAUDLER 00., OF

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATIONOF NEW YORK.

FLUID METER Application filed July 26,-

'The'present invention relates to fluid meters of the class adapted for measurin the flow of a fluid or liquid and has for one ject to provide an efficient and accurate device of this class which is suitable for use with apparatus in which the liquid is circulated by air or other gaseous pressure and in which provision is made for separating the liquid and gas to prevent operation of the device by gaseous pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid meter of the above type conforming with sanitary standards as required, for

' example, in the measurement of milk or other liquid foods and embodying a construction comprising a minimum number of parts accessibly arranged and adapted to be uickly and readily disassembled and cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid meter of the above described nature having its parts constructed and arranged to effect complete drainage of the liquid by gravity whenever the supply is dis continued. x

To these. and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fluid meter embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same;

a Figure 3 is a sectional plan taken on line' 3"3 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 4 -4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a. detail perspective view of the fluid control valve shown in Figure 4; 1

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the lower sectio of the casing with the cover plate for the piston cage removed; Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional eleva- 4 tion through the upper portion of the casing similar to the upper half of Figure 4 with the float shown in raised position; Figure 8 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 88 of Figure 12; a Figure 9 is a sectional plan taken on line 9*"-9 of Figure 8; v

Figure 10 is a view in elevation of a measuring piston forming a part of the measuring mechanism;

1927. Serial No. 208,603.

Figure llis a top plan view of the lower section of the casing and parts supported therein;

Figure 12 is a plan view similar to Figure 11 with a portion-of the drive for the registering mechanism removed. so

Similar referencemumerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

The embodiment of the invention'herein disclosed by way of illustration shows the application of the principles involved to 05 oliquid metering or measuring apparatus of the positive type adapted for use with a supply of liquid circulatedunder gaseous pressure or in an other manner and is particularly adapte for use in measuring milk or other liquid foods requiring sanitary handling. In other words, the present embodiment represents a construction in which all of the parts are arranged or adapted to afford complete drainage of the liquid from the meter after use and for bein readily disassembled to afiord access for t orough cleaning of the parts.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on that shown in my copendso ing application for fluid meters, filed August 24, 1926, and bearing Serial No. 131,294.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the present embodiment comprises a compact, self-contained casing having a base 3 portion 15 and a cover portion 16 formed at their meeting edges with flanges 17 and 18,'re-

spectively, and between which is interposed a gasket 19 to afford a fluid-tight joint. In order to provide for quick detachment of the 0 cover portion for access to the interior of the meter, the upper and lower casing portions are connected by a series of swing bolts 20 each pivoted between a pair of lugs 21 under the flange 17 of the base portion and engag- '95 ing in a recess 22 in the flange 17 of the cover portion, the bolts being provided with wing nuts 23 for clamping the casing portions together. The base portion of the casing contains a positive liquid measuring device more fully described hereinafter, such device including a piston or moving part actuated by the transmitted liquid and having a driving connection with the registering mechanism indicated, generally, at 24 in Figure 2, the indicating parts of which are contained in a casing or housing 25 carried by the upper I section 16 of the meter. The registering mechanism may be of any known or suitable type and its particular construction forms no part in the present invention.

Inthe use of positive liquid meters as heretofore known, various difliculties have been experienced due to interference with the accurate functioning of the apparatus by the air or other gas trapped in the liquid, particularly, in'connection, with equipment in which the liquid is subjected to or circulated by air or other gaseous pressure which has a tendency to over-drive the meter. Its-has been found that this difficulty can be overcome by separating the liquid and gas or air within the meter and bypassing it about the measuring device under control ofsuitable automatic valve means, operating when the supply of liquid ceases to substantially close the hquid path against the gas and to close the by-pass during thesupply of liquid.

The upper section 16 of the meter is provided with a nipple 26 for connection with a supply pipe not shown and the lower section 15 is provided with a nipple 27 arranged to receive a discharge pipe through which the measured liquid is adapted to flow. The upper section is provided preferably with an L- shaped separation chamber 28 and the lower section with a measuring chamber 29. An intermediate chamber of passage 30 for the liquid is provided between the upper-and lower chambers. The upper wall 31 of the intermediate chamber constitutes the bottom of the L-shaped chamber 28 while a disc or plate 32 forms the lower wall of the intermediate chamber. The bottom wall 31 of the chamber 28 is provided with a. discharge opening surrounded by a Valve seat 33 for the passage of the liquid fromthe upper to the intermediate chamber, said opening being normally closed by a rotary valve indicated, generally, at 34 which is mounted to oscillate in a cylindrical casing 35, the walls of which are preferably formed integral with the upper section 16. The lower wall 32 of the chamber 30 forms a cover for a cage 36, the upper flange of which is adapted to rest upon an annular shoulder 37 formed inwardly of and adjacent the top of the lower section 15.-

The .wall 31 is provided with a boss 38 forming a bearing for a spindle 39, the upper end of which is provided with a pinion 40 for driving the measuring device. The lower end of the spindle is provided with a spur gear 41 meshing with the pinion 42 on a spindle 43 j ournaled in a bearing 44 secured to a removable cover plate 45 superimposed upon a cylindrical extension 46 on the plate 32 as .shown in Figure 4. The spindle bearing 44 has j ournaled thereon a roller 47 which forms a guide for a measuring piston as hereinafter described.

The measuring device proper is of a positive and accurate character and includes the cage 36 and bottom plate 48, which is preferabottom plate 48 has an upwardly projecting central boss 49 of generally cylindrical shape extending to a point adjacent the bottom of the cover plate 32. A partition 50 extends between the side wall of the cage 36 and the boss 49 as shown in Figure 9. The boss 49 partition 50 and other parts form guides for a horizontally oscillating piston 51 of generally cylindrical shape with a top wall 52, the bottom of the piston being open and resting on the bottom plate 48 of the cage and extending about the boss 49. The top of the piston rests upon the top of the boss 49 and extends between the latter and the bottom of the cover plate 32 with the partition 50 embraced in the piston side wallslot 5 3 as shownf The piston cover is formed with an elongated curved recess 54 and carries a vertically projecting stud 55 at its center, playing between the cylindrical portion 46 of the cover and the guide roller 47.

It will be seen that while the piston may not rotate, it is adapted to oscillate horizontally about the cage boss 49 while the slot 53 of thepiston travels back and forth along the partitlon 50. and the stud 55' describes a circle in engagement with a bar 56 on the lower end of the spindle 43 for driving the registering mechanism, such motion of the piston being produced by the flow of the liquid as hereinafter described.

The cover plate 32 of the piston fcage forms a substantially tight closure with the side walls of the casing base and the flange 36 at the upper side of the cage forms a liquid tight joint with the shoulder 37 of the lower section of. the meter so that milk or other liquid passing from chamber 28 into the in.. termedlate chamber 30 cannot escape except through openings 57 and 58 in the cover plate .32. These openings are at one side of the partition 50 so that the liquid passing through the same enters the piston through its recess 54 and through side openings as at 59 and enters between the side wall of the til) tion shown, for example in Fig. 6. The bottom plate of the piston cage is provided with similar ports 60 andGl', Figure 9 which are uncovered by the pistonin its movement so that the liquid on the other side of the piston and that within the same is discharged through openings 60 and 61 into the chamber 29 and outwardly through the nipple 27 at the bottom thereof. The piston is provided at this "side with openings 59 similar to openings 59 to assist in the discharge of the liquid within the same. The piston oscillates continuously in this manner as long as of the piston and the arrangement of. the

openings 57 and 58, 60 and 61 providefor complete drainage of the liquid from the chamber 30 and from the measuring device into the base of the casing. The bottom of the casing base 15 is sloped downwardly to a substantially central point whereby to better drain the same through the nipple 27.

The base of the easing is provided with a .by-pass 62 communicating with a by-pass 63 in the upper section of the casing which communicates with another by-pass 64 leading from a. point adjacent the top of the upper section into the valve casing 35 and communicating with the by-pass 63 through a port 65 as indicated in Figure 4. The bypass 64 is formed by the oppositely disposed Walls 66 and'67 connected by end walls. 68. Thus an air discharge passage is formed leading from a point adjacent'the top of the chamber 28 to the bottom'of the chamber 29 in the lower section 15 of the casing. The by;

- pass 64'is located at one side of the path of flow of the liquid through the nipple 26 so as to avdid discharging of the liquid through said by-pass. The liquid'control valve indicated, generally, at 34 is provided with disclike end portions 69 and 70 which are connec'ted by a wall or partition 71 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The ends 69 and70 are also connected by upper and lower curved valve portions 72 and 73, respectively which conform to the curvature of the inside diameter of the valve casing 35. The valve portion 7 3 normally engages the valve seat 33 to close the discharge opening leading from the separation chamber 28 to the intermediate chamber 30 as when the valve is in the position shown in Figure 7. The upper portion 72 thereof is adapted to close the by-pass 64 to prevent the discharge of liquid therethrough when the receiving chamber 28 becomes substantially. filled. The ends 69 and 70 of the valve areprovided with trunnions 74 and 75 respectively. Trunnion 74 is supported by a Wall 76 ezitending into the chamber 28, the

' well being recessed to receive the end 69 of separation chamber 28. The squared end of the trunnion 7 4 extends through the squared opening in the end of the rod, said end being held against lateral displacement in an out ward directionby a lug '83 projecting inwardly from the wall of the chamber 28.

A baffle plate 84 is disposed upon the inner side wall 67 of the air discharge passage 64 and projects transversely thereof and intersects the axis oi the nipple 26 whereby to projectinto the path of the inflowingliquid, preferably at a point slightly above the valve 34. The purpose of the battle plate is to aii'ord a more uniform distribution of thev liquid within the chamber 28 in order to pro-' teet the float and avoid undue influencing of the movement of the same from its different positions. For example,- without the bathe to spread or distribute the infiowing liquid the initial stream entering the chamber 28 would pass downwardly and under the float and tend-to quickly raise the same so that the valve'portion 72 would close the by-pass 64 before the air could escape from the chamber. The more evendistribution of the liquid by the use of the battle not only overcomes this difliculty but insures a gradual movement of the float to and from its valve closing positions. a

The. separation chamber 28 is provided with an end closure 85 which when removed permits the float to be inserted therein with s receiving chamber 28 is afforded by provi-ding grooves or openings 88 in the valve seat 33, or at other suitable points in thebottom 31 of said chamber, so that any liquid retained therein after the valve portion 73 be- 1 comes seated will be quickly drained into the chamber or passage 30and thence into the bottom of the casing as explained above. In the operation of the device when milk or other liquid'is supplied to the meter through its inlet 26the liquid tends to fill the separation chamberand to raise the float to move the valve 34from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 7 whereby theliquid is permitted to escape into the chamber 30 from whence it passes through openings 57 and 58,-to oscillate the piston During the raising. of the float any quantity of air or other gas entering the meter may escape through the passage 64' andnport 65 and thence through passages 63 and 62 to the bottom of the casing 15. Thus the air by-passed without influencing the operation of the piston so that the registering mecha- -\i msm will accurately register the actual quantity of liquid transmitted. When the separation chamber is filled with liquid'or in other words when a full flow of liquid is supplied to the chamber 28 the float operated valve is raised to close the by-pass Gto prevent the escape oi liquid through the latter. In case of the entrance of any air, however,

the valvg will be operated by the descent ot the float to open the passage 6i whereby to by-pass the air as described, but will also operate at all times to prevent escape through the bypass of the rising liquid. hen the low of liquid is discontinued the valve is rotated upon its seat by the descent of the float to close the discharge passage leading from the chamber 28 to the chamber 30, so that a sufficient quantity of air to operate the measuring device is prevented from passing therethrough. Even when the valve-3 4: closes the outlet opening leading from the chamber 28 tl1e liquid may drain through ports 88 and through the measuring device into and from the bottom of the casing so that the apparatus is'completely self-drained -T he invention thus provides a self-contained compact mechanism with provision for the separation of air from the liquid and with automatic valve means to eflect coordinating closing of the liquid discharge passage controlled by the valve and the air by-pass as well. The meter is thus adapted to operate accurately under either a high or low. pres- 'sure without interference by air mixing with the milk and when the use ofthe meter is discontinued or at suitable intervals during its use its parts may be readily disassembled and cleaned or sterilized as desired.

I claim as my invention:

1; In a fluidmeter, the combination of a *asing having upper and lower liquid receiv: ing and discharge chambers andan intermediate chamber therebetween, a measuring device arranged in the lower chamber to transmit theiflfuid and to be actuated thereby, a registering mechanismdriven by said device, the casing having an airdischarge passage leading from the upper to the lower chamber, said upper chamberhaving a fluid discharge opening leading to the interme-i diate chamber and the latter having an outlet leading to the measuring device and an automatic valve having a position at which it is adapted to close said air discharge passage at a point between its ends and being movable to close said opening when the liquid falls toa predetermined level within the upper chamber. I

2. In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing having liquid receiving and discharge chambers, said receiving chamber having a liquid discharge passage leading to the discharge chamber, said casing havlng an air discharge passage forby-passing air from the receiving to thedischargechamber, a rotary valve within the casing adapted to normally close the liquid discharge passage and arranged for movement to open the same and to close'the air discharge passage at a point between its ends, a float within the liquid receiving chamber operatively connected with the valve, a measuring device arranged within the liquid discharge cham her and adapted totransmit the fluid and to be actuated thereby and a registering mechanism driven by said device.

3. In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing mcluding upper and lower sections,

said sections having fluid receiving and discharge chambers respectively, the sections 0 cooperating to-form an intermediate cham her having an opening connectlng with the receiving chamber and also cooperating to torm an air discharge passage .for by-passmg air from the upper end of the receiving chamber to the discharge chamber, a valve for controlhng said opening and said air d1scharge passage, a float within the fluid rec'eiving'chamber for operating said valve, the'latter serving in all positions to cut oii communication between said opening and said air discharge passage, a measuring device ari-anged'in the discharge chamber to transmit the fluid and to be actuated thereby, a registeringmechanism carried by the upper seetlon of the casing and means 1ncluding gearing located within the intermediate chamber adapted to be actuated by the measuring device to drive the registering mechanism. 1

4. In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing, a fluid measuring device arranged in said casing to transmit thefluid and to be actuated thereby, a registerlng mechanism driven by said measuring device, said casing "having a separation chamber overlying the.

measuring device and having a discharge.

passage leading to the same, the casing also having an air by-pass leading from the up-. per portion of the separation chamber to a point below the measuring device, a valve disposed between the ends of the by-pass and a float within the separation chamber for actuating said valve, the latter serving to alternately open and close said by-pass and said discharge passage.

5. In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing, a fluid measuring device arranged in sa1d.casmg' to transmit the fluid and to be actuated thereby, a reg stering mechanism arber overlying the measuring device and having a fluid inlet opening adjacent its topand a discharge passage leading to the measuring device, the casing also having an air by-pass leading from the upper portion of the separation chamber to a point below the measuring device, a valve disposed between the ends of the by-pass, a float within the separation chamber for actuating said valve, the latter serving to alternately open and close said bypass and said discharge passage and a baflle plate disposed within the separation chamber below said inlet opening and in alignment therewith.

6. In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing, a fluid measuring device arranged in said casing to transmit the fluid and to be actuated thereby, a registering mechanism arranged to be driven by said measuring device, a

said casing having a. separation chamber overlying the measuring device and also having a cylindrical valve chamber at one side of the separation chamber with fluid inlet and outlet passages leading to the measuring device, the casing having an air by-pass leading from the upper portion of the separation chamber through said valve chamber to a point below the measuring device, an oscillatory valve disposed within said cylindrical chamber, a float within the separation chamber for actuating said valve, the latter serving when opehiing said fluid inlet passage to close the air passage'leading to the valve chamber and means for draining the separa-- tion chamber when the valve is in position to close said inlet passage.

7. In a fluid ,meter, the combination of a casing, a fluid measuring device arranged in said casing to transmit the fluid and to be actuated thereby, registering mechanism driven by said device, said casing having a liquid receiving chamber at one side of the measuring device provided with an inlet opening, andialso having a cylindrical valve chamber located at one sid'e'of the liquid receiving chamber and provided with adischarge passage communicating with the measuring device, the casing having a by-pass leading from the upper portion of the receiving chamber throughsaid valve chamber and downwardlyto the-bottom of the casing a baflle plate within the receiving chamber directly beneath said inlet opening and a float operated rotary valve within the valve cham: ber adapted upon raising of the float to open said discharge passage and to close said bypass, said valve having a partition arranged to prevent communication between the by pass and discharge passage in all positions of the valve. i

8.; In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet passages, a fluid measuring device arranged in said casing to device, the casing having a by-pass leading from the upper portion of the receiving chamber downwardly to said outlet passage, a rotary valve within said valve chamber hav ing end portions rotatably supported by opposite walls of the valve chamber and a float within said liquid receiving chamber connected with said valve and adapted when being raised by the liquid to a predetermined position to cause the valt e to open said discharge passage and to close said by-pass.

9. In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet passages, a fluid measuring device arranged in said casing to transmit the fluid and to be actuated thereby, registering mechanism driven by said device, said casing'having a liquid receiving chamber at one side of the measuring device, anda valve chamber at one side of the receiving chamber having a discharge passage communicating with the measuring device, the casing having a by-pass leading from the upper portion of the receiving chamber downwardly through the valve chamber to said outlet passage, an oscillatory valve member within said valve chamber including opposed valves and a transverse partition con nected therewith,- said member having its opposite ends rotatably supported by opposite walls of the valve chamber, a float within said liquid receiving chamber connected with said valve member and adapted When raised by the liquid to cause one ofsaid valves to open said discharge passage and the other to close said by-pass, said partition in all positions of the valves serving to out off. communication between the by-pass and discharge passage.

10. In a fluid meter,'the. combination of a casing having inlet and outlet passages, a fluid measuring device arranged in said casing to transmit the fluid and adapted to be actuated thereby, registering mechanism driven by said device, said casing being provided with a liquid receiving chamber at one mined position to cause the valve to open ,said discharge passage and to close said bypass. v

11. In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing having inlet and outlet passages, a fluid measuring device arranged in said casing to transmit the fluid and to be actuated thereby, registering mechanism driven by said device, said casing having a liquid recelving chamber at oneside of the measuring device and a cylindrical valve chamber at one side of the receiving chamber having a 1 dlscharge passage communicating with, the

measuring device, the casing having a by-pass leading from the upper portion of the receiving chamber through said valve chamber and downwardly to said outlet passage, said valve chamber having end walls, an oscillatory valve wlthin the second mentioned chamber having trunnions journaled in said end walls and a float withinthe first mentioned chamber connected with one of the trunnions and prising intersecting laterals above the measuring device one of whlch has a dlscharge passage communicating with said measuring device, an oscillatory valve in one of the laterals for controlling an outlet thereof communicating with the measuring device, a float within the other lateral operatively engaging and detachably connected with the valve, the easin g having a bypass leading from the liquid receiving chamber to said outlet passage and arranged to beclosed by the valve when the latter is moved to open said outlet and removable closures for openings in said laterals through which openings the valve and float are inserted for connection one with another.

13. In a fluid meter, the combination of a casing including upper and lower chambered sections cooperating to form an intermediate chamber extending above the bottom of the upper section, a measuring device disposed in the lower section arranged to receive and to be actuated by fluid discharged therein from the intermediate chamber, registering mechanism adapted to be actuated by said measuring dev ice, said casing having a bypass leadingfroin the upper to the lower chamber and an automatic valve for controlling an outlet leading from the upper to the intermediate chamber, said valve being arranged to close said by-pass between its ends when moved to open said outlet.

ED GAR B. NICHOLS. 

